In the world of professional CS2, a new wave of drama is brewing— G2 Esports , one of the most decorated clubs in recent years, lost its key players, Nikola "⁠ NiKo ⁠" Kovač and Ilya "⁠ m0NESY ⁠" Osipov, within a few months. The club's CEO, Alban "Stilgar" Dechelotte, revealed the background of these high-profile transfers in the HLTV Confirmed podcast.

Cracks in the Team Since 2023
Despite victories at IEM Katowice and Cologne in 2023, internal issues at G2 began to surface back then. In the fall, three players almost simultaneously expressed their desire to leave the roster.

We learn NiKo has proactively talked to Falcons for 6 months without telling us; It was leaked, that's how we found out. m0NESY has been poached for the last three years by all the Russian teams. Cloud9 nearly agreed on a deal, and he told us that if NiKo goes then he wanted to leave. Then huNter- said he wanted to go to Vitality .
Stilgar

At the same time, G2 was already considering replacing jks and HooXi —leaving all five players in uncertainty.

Why They Sold m0NESY —and Did It Early
m0NESY 's contract was set to run until the end of 2024, but interest from CIS teams was growing. Potential suitors included Falcons , Cloud9 , Virtus.pro , and even Spirit . G2's management decided to sell the player now to avoid losing him for free in December.

There was a real risk that in June, one team with donk, with electronic , might have come and tried to convince him to sign as a free agent in December.
Stilgar

Although G2 wanted to build a team around Ilya, he did not show initiative in forming the roster.

Ilya is famous for saying, 'let me play CS,' that's what he told us every time, and he said he wasn't ready for a decision. I respect that, but some players are more decisive in building a roster around them. ZywOo got ropz to join him, I wish Ilya did the same for us, but he did not; He did not commit to helping us build a roster around him. He was not clear about the staff and teammates he wanted. It was difficult to make him happy.
Stilgar

The Story of NiKo 's Departure
While G2 had a chance to retain NiKo , the player's secret negotiations with Falcons led to mistrust from management.

We felt betrayed by NiKo for talking to Falcons without informing management.
Stilgar

Later, NiKo expressed a desire to stay, extended his contract, and the club offered him the role of a full captain. However, he declined.

After his refusal, the club focused on bringing in Snax and malbsMd instead of building a team around NiKo .

He was already leading on CT side; He has a very strong voice on T side, maybe creating some challenge for a structured IGL like Aleksib or a coach that wants to put in their own ideas. So, let's do it: you want influence on the game so let's do it fully so we can add more firepower in the team.
Stilgar

Coach, peca, and Internal Politics
According to Dechelotte, HooXi was the only one advocating for bringing in "his" coach, but most players preferred Victor "⁠ TaZ ⁠" Wojtas. G2 opted for experience and individual skill over strategic work.

Regarding criticism of manager Petar "⁠peca⁠" Marković, the organization strongly defended him:

If you believe [peca] makes decisions because of nationality or friendship, you are delusional. He would be fired at a business like this. We are very happy to have him in our team.
Stilgar

What's Next for G2
Amid rumors of a possible signing of s1mple , the CEO of G2 made it clear: such a transfer will not happen. Instead, the organization will build a new roster around malbsMd and HeavyGod . The restructuring has already begun, and the team is open to further changes.

As illustrated by post- NiKo , we can't replace Ilya with one trade of one player. He has too much impact. Nobody on the planet, except maybe ZywOo , can replace him. We are already working on changes; The goal is to reinvest and to rebuild.
Stilgar

The story of G2 is a vivid example of how even top teams can find themselves in unstable situations. Losing two stars is not just about transfers; it's the beginning of a new era that requires patience, trust, and strategic vision. G2 faces a challenging path ahead, but the organization is already taking steps toward renewal and a return to the elite.